Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Beauty Favorites

                             This is a little more of a random post for me. haha

I'm not any kind of beauty guru, nor am I very well educated in this department, but I have definitely come to appreciate a good skin care routine over the years since having children.

I know that pregnancy and age shows very differently for all of us. One particular thing I have dealt with through each pregnancy is hyper pigmentation and age spots. I also have rather dry skin.

There are all kinds of products out there that will help, but finding one that is affordable can sometimes be a challenge for me. I enjoy watching youtube "favorites" on this subject and reading other women's blogs about their skin care routine, so I thought I might share mine with you. 😊


Skin care
                                                Here are some of my favorite items to use.
                 ** I will also post some links to these items below in case you are interested.**


The CeraVe hydrating cleanser is great for dry skin. Ive noticed a big difference in my skin since switching to this cleanser. The best way to describe this face wash is it's as though you are rubbing lotion onto your skin, yet you're getting a clean face afterwards. For those with more oily skin, that may sound horrifying..haha 😅
But for those with very dry skin like mine, this may be exactly what you need. 
I purchase this at Walmart for around $8.



Thayers Witch Hazel with Rose Petal. This would be the one thing I would tell you to run out {or go online 😉} and buy today! This feels wonderful on the skin. All the ingredients in this witch hazel { aloe vera, rose petal water, grapefruit seed extract, just to name a few} will have your skin saying "Thank you!" It feels so refreshing and clean on your skin.Plus it smells like roses. 👍
 I do not wash my face in the morning, I will just use this to give my skin a fresh clean feel before applying moisturizer. It has no alcohol, so it is safe on your lips and under your eyes as well. I purchased this large, 12 oz. bottle on Amazon for $10.



                                           Now onto some serums and lotions that I love...
The Andalou naturals 1000 roses Beautiful Day Cream, is a moisturizer I purchased at Target. This is a great hydrating day cream. A little goes a long way with this stuff, which is nice. I don't feel like I will run out anytime soon. This moisturizer is a thick, but not at all tacky consistency. Its very creamy and soft on your skin. There is also no fragrance which I personally like. 😉

I actually purchased this day cream on clearance at the beginning of the year as Target was bringing out all of the new skin care lines. So I scored this for only $7. On Amazon its sells for about $18.         Andalou Naturals Day Cream

The RoseHip Seed Oil. This is a light oil but adds a beautiful glow to your skin. I personally like using one little drop mixed into my foundation whenever I wear it. It adds a great dewy look plus a little more hydration onto your skin so that there is no creasing into any fine lines and wrinkles.  I also like to  use just a tiny  amount and pat it onto my concealer under my eyes instead of a setting powder. Again, it just adds a little bit of hydration and keeps the makeup from settling into any lines or wrinkles. RoseHip Seed Oil

Sundown Naturals Vitamin E oil. This oil is 70,000 IU, a very thick vitamin e. I bought this from Walmart for $5. One thing I like about this vitamin e is that the ingredients are only Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
 Some vitamin e oils will have a mix of vitamin e with other ingredients such as mineral oil, olive oil, ect. So that is something to keep an eye on.  I love to use this oil under my eyes as a good moisturizer before bed. I also like to use this on my lips. **This is not to be ingested**
I also like to use this vitamin E as an ingredient that I use to make my deodorant. {I will be sure to share that recipe soon 🙂}
Sundown Naturals Vitamin E Oil

TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C. I began to look into Vitamin C as I was looking for something to even out my skin tone. This stuff has definitely been helpful in doing that.This serum also contains Hyaluronic acid & vitamin E.
 I have only used this serum for about 3 weeks and I can tell a significant difference in my skin tone, It is much more even now. A little goes a long way with this stuff as well. This serum does have  a sanitary smell, as I looked up the ingredients I realized it is the witch hazel in there. 😉
I purchased this serum on Amazon for $20.  TruSkin Vitamin C






Heritage Store Rose Water & Glycerin.  So you may now be noticing a commonality to most of these products..haha.  I do love Roses. I love the smell and what they offer in skin and beauty.  This comes in a spray and can be used many different ways. I personally love to use this spray as a quick way to hydrate my skin, as a makeup setting spray, and at times Ive also use it as a toner.  It has a very delicate floral scent {smells so good!}🌹
There three simple ingredients: Water, natural vegetable glycerin, & Rosa Damascena
I purchased this on Amazon for $11.Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin



And so that is all for my skin care and what I love. If there are any products that you love and are affordable, please let me know what they are.  I have not found a good sunscreen face moisturizer that I like, so any recommendations would be so appreciated. 😉
Thanks for stopping by, have a blessed day! ♡


Monday, March 13, 2017

My first Home Birth



 There is something special about hearing women share their experience with birth. The first time they hold their new born. The first time they feed the precious, brand new baby.  The smells.  The counting of the fingers and toes.  All the feels and emotions.  Its such a beautiful gift.

There are so many details I remember with each of my children when they were born. They are each so unique and different in who they are. Their arrival into this world is no different.

This time around, we did things quite different. It has not been an area of comfort for us in the past, but the Lord certainly used this time to stretch our faith and teach us even more how to trust in Him.



 So this was our first home birth.  Adam and I and our 8 children were home. Two of my closest sisters also came to be with me. **They to have birthed at home only assisted by family.**

 They gave me drink to stay hydrated, they rubbed my very sore back during labor, they sat with my children, they cleaned, they cooked, they truly just served my family and I.

They left Adam and I in our room alone as we prayed and I worked hard through those contractions.










                                                         



                             







                                                                 
Lindsey & Elizabeth sitting on my bed while they awaited the arrival of the brother/sister
{We didn't know the gender}
        Lindsey was praying for me.  💞


                                                                       
He came into the world after 4 hours of labor. So much love!


I have birthed many babies. Each and every birth is so special and something every woman should be  proud of.

This experience for me taught me joy in a whole new way. It taught me joy comes from truly trusting in Him.  💕
This is just another step of my journey to joy....



 Now anyone who knows me, knows that I can't possibly go without sharing a few funny tidbits. 😉

A few weeks before I was to give birth I decided to try my hand at making some natural deodorant. Though I like this deodorant, I can attest to the  fact that it DOES NOT stand against the hard work of labor.. 😅 I was definitely sending off a very earthy smell...

Another funny story my sisters told me. While I was laboring, my daughter Lindsey, she is 11, comes out of the room and into the living room where my sister Sarah is sitting. Sarah asked her how I was doing and Lindsey replies, "She does not look happy!"   😏






                                                                                           



Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Oh goodness, its been quite a while since I've updated on here.  You know how it goes, just living life, keeping up with house, children, school and having babies...
    


Yes, thats right. We had another sweet baby boy.



Clayton Reed White. He was 7lbs. 14oz of pure sweetness when he arrived.


That makes 9 children that we've been blessed with.


5 beautiful girls & 4 handsome boys.

This mama could not be more proud of each and every one of them.


They're just keeping us young...  :)




 I'm looking forward to sharing my journey to joy, our homeschool, our favorite recipes & the many adventures of life and family on here again.

 Be blessed!